NFL roundup: Ryan undecided on Jets starting quarterback

The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchange•December 4, 2012

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said Monday he has not decided which player will start at quarterback for the Jets in this Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ryan benched starter Mark Sanchez after he struggled against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. After Sanchez completed 10 of 21 passes for 97 yards with three interceptions, Ryan brought in third-stringer Greg McElroy. Backup Tim Tebow was inactive with a rib injury. McElroy completed 5 of 7 passes for 29 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass as the Jets edged the Cardinals, 7-6. Ryan wants to further evaluate the quarterback situation during the week before making a commitment. He did not rule out starting Tebow, but wants to make sure he is healthy. Ryan activated him to play the week prior, but did not feel comfortable enough with Tebow's health to clear him against Arizona. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh will help Ryan in his evaluation this week.

--Colin Kaepernick will continue to be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, coach Jim Harbaugh announced. Kaepernick started his third straight game for the 49ers on Sunday, but questions arose after the 16-13 overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams. Harbaugh decided to stay with Kaepernick after watching film of the game in which Kaepernick completed 21 of 32 passes for 208 and rushed for 84 yards. Harbaugh also said former starter Alex Smith is still in the picture.

--Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid announced Nick Foles will start at quarterback for the rest of the season. Foles has started the past three games, including Sunday night's 38-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Foles completed 22 of 34 passes for 251 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Michael Vick has been out with a concussion. Reid said Vick is making progress in his recovery, but Foles will continue to start regardless of Vick's status.

--The gun that Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher used to kill his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, and then himself on Saturday morning in Kansas City, Mo., was legally owned, USA Today reported. Belcher, 25, fired at Perkins several times at their home and then drove to the team's practice facility five miles away and turned the gun on himself after speaking with coach Romeo Crennel, general manager Scott Pioli and an assistant coach while parked at a lot. According to a report by SI.com's Peter King, Pioli and Belcher spoke for a few minutes. "I came here to tell you thank you," Belcher told Pioli, according to King's source. "Thank you for my chance. I love you, bro." Crennel and assistant coach Gary Gibbs then came out to the parking lot. Belcher thanked them, walked away and shot himself in the head, according to the SI.com report.

---Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz announced that rookie wide receiver Ryan Broyles will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Broyles was injured during Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. For the season, Broyles caught 22 passes for 310 yards with two touchdowns. Schwartz also said that wide receiver Titus Young was sent home for the second time in the last week for behavior detrimental to the team. This time, Young's ban is indefinite.

--Linebacker Kirk Morrison was released by the Buffalo Bills, who needed to create a roster spot with center Eric Wood out indefinitely and offensive tackle Chris Hairston also banged up. Wood suffered a torn MCL and could be done for the season, while Hairston's status for Sunday's game against St. Louis is in doubt. David Snow is expected to start at guard or center, and Sam Young would likely replace Hairston on the right side.

--Dec. 14 is the date set for Richard Sherman's appeal of his four-game suspension for alleged use is performance-enhancing drugs, ESPN.com reported. It means Sherman will remain eligible to play in Sunday's home game against Arizona. Brandon Browner, the other Seahawks' cornerback who faces a four-game suspension for suspected use of PED, has not had a date set for his appeal hearing. That means he probably will play in Sunday's game as well. Both cornerbacks tested positive for Adderall, sources told ESPN.